Envelop-sealing machine.



D.G.BUTTS. ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 00T- 8,1908.

Patented May 18,1909.

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I]. G. BUTTS. I BNVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

urmoumn nun our. 8,1908.

922,255. Patented May 18, 1909.

'! SHEETS-BEER! 2.

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D. G. BUTTS. ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 8, 1908.,

922,255. Patented May 18, 1909.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

D. G. BUTTS.

ENVELOP SEALING MAGH'INE.

APPLIOATION FILED DOT. 8.1908.

Patented May 18, 1909.

I SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.D. G. BUTTS. BNVELOPVSEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION mum OOT. 8,1908.

922,255. I Patented May 18,1909.

7 BEEETSQBEBB'I 6.

D.G.BUTTS. BNVELOP SEALING MACHINE. -APPLI(JATION FILED 0018,1908.

Patented May 18,1909.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

D. G. BUTTS. ENVELQP SEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00w. 8, 190a.

- Patented May 18, 1909.

an earns pann r orrren DANIEL G. BUTTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO HIMSELF AND ONE- HALF TO JOSEPH O. SEYL, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS.

ENVELOP-SEALING MACHINE.

Application filed October 8, 1908.

T old whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANlEL G. Burrs, a citizen of the United States,residing at. Chicago, in the county of (look, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Envelop-SealingMachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to envelop sealing machines and its objectgenerally is to provide a new and improved machine by which envelops maybe fed from a suitable supply table, have their gummed flaps moistened,the moistened flaps pressed upon the envelops, and the envelopsdelivered to a receiving table.

Specifically my invention consists of improvements of envelop sealingmachines in a number of particulars hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is arear elevation. Fig. is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Figs.at, 5 and 6 are views of the principal operative parts of my inventionwith the frame and other parts omitted for the sake of clearness ofillustration and showing the operative mechanisms in successivepositions. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail, Using an isometric view of thereceiving table. Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail. being a top or plan viewof the supply table and of the brushing mechanism and support. 9 is adetail, being a section on line 9 of 1. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail,being a view of the presser device for holding the pile of envelops.Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of the brushes which bear upon the leadedge of the lower envelop of the pile. 12 an enlarged detail, being asection on line 10-1O of Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is a detail, being a view ofthe brush-driving mechanism. Fig. 1-1 is a detail, being a section online I s- 1 1 of Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is an enlarged detail, being anisometric detail of the moistener. Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail. beinga section on line 16-16 of Fig. 3, and showing the operating crank arms.Fig. 17 is an enlarged detail, being an isometric view of a part of thesupply table, showing the spring plates which cooperate with the brushesin holding back the envelops. Fig. 17 is a detail, being a view of theremovable moistener.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May '18, 1909.

Serial No. 456,737.

Referring to the drawings,18 indicates a frame on which the partshereinafter men tioned are mounted.

19 (see Fig. 2) indicates a shaft which is jonrnaled in the frame 18.

20 indicates a driving pulley or wheel which is mounted upon the outerend of the shaft 19 and may be driven by hand or by any suitable power,or the shaft 19 may be driven in any suitable manner, as by a motormounted on the framework (not shown).

Referring to Figs. 2 and 16, where these parts are best shown, 21indicates a crank which, by means of a hub 22, is secured upon the innerend of the shaft 19. he crank 21 is provided with a circular boss 23upon which is journaled the head 24 of the connecting rod 25, the head24: being annular shaped and fitting closely upon the circular boss 23.26 indicates a crank arm which is secured to the crank 21 upon theexterior surface of the boss 23 in any suitable mannuer, as by bolts 27,the crank 21 being preferably recessed upon the side opposite from theboss 23, as is shown in Fig. 16.

28, as is best shown in Fig. 8, indicates a receiving table which ismounted in the framework 18 and slopes downward toward the receivingtable hereinafter described. The supply table 28 is adapted to support apile of envclops which are placed upon it flap downward for the purposeshereinafter described. The supply table 28 is supplied with arms 29,preferably integral therewith, slightly below the level of the supplytable, as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 17, and are separated from oneanother to afford a passage above them and under the supply table forthe feeding blade and between them for the arm of the feeding blade inits motion hereinafter described.

30 indicates springs which are secured to the auns 29 in any suitablemanner, as by plates 31, and normally are raised above the surface ofthe arms 29 in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 17 so as to bearagainst the rotating brushes hereinafter described. The arms 29 projectdownward and forward toward the receiving table in the same generalplane as the supply table.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 10, 32-83 indicate lugs or cars which aresecured to the frame 18 in any suitable manner, as by screws 34. The lug33 projects upward from the frame to a greater height than the lug 32.indicates a curved arm which is pivotally connected at one end to thelug 32 and at the other end to a lug 36 secured to a presser-foot 37which is adapted to bear upon the supply table 28, as is shown in Fig,10, when no envelops are in place, or upon the top of'a pile of envelopswhen in place upon the supply table. 38 indicates a curved arm one endof which is pivotally connected withthe lug 33 and the other end to alug 39 also secured to the presser foot 37 and projecting therefromsomewhat farther than the lug 36. 40 indicates a lifting handle on thearm 38. It will be seen that by the connections between the lugs 32 and33 and the lugs 36 and 39 by the curved arms 35 and 38, when the arm 38is moved upward by hand, the presser foot 37 will be moved away from thesupply table and to such an extent as may be required by any ordinarypile of envelope will keep its lower surface parallel with the surfaceof the supply table. The distance during which this presser foot willkeep its parallelism will depend upon the relative heights of theseveral lugs described, and is adjusted according to the desiredcapacity of the machine for holding envelops.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 7, 4-1 indicates a receiving tablewhich is formed of a series of parallel bars 4:24c3

which are secured to a suitable crossbar 4 1-. of the frame 18. Theinner ends of the bars e2+-t3 are beveled downward and backward so as tobring them into proper position for receiving the envelops on edge asthey are thrust forward upon the receiving table after being moistenedand sealed in the manner hereinafter described. The bars 42 arepreferably made somewhat higher than the bars 13 and are adapted toreceive larger envelope, while the bars 43 are adapted to receivesmaller envelope between the bars 42, as is indicated by dotted lines inFig. 7.

l5 indicates bearing stops, preferably formed of rubber or of some othersuitable material which are suitably secured in the rear crossbar 11 ofthe receiving table 41, and are located between the bars 16 indicates aplate which projects downward over the water trough hereinafterdescribed.

indicates a presser foot which is 0011 nected by means of suitable lugsl84l9 with curved arms .5051, respectively, the other ends of which arerespectively connected to lugs 52-53 mounted on the framework 18.

54 indicates a spring (see Fig. 1) one end of which is connected withthe frame and the other with the arm 51 forward of its pivot and tendsto yieldingly maintain. the presser foot against the pile of envelopsdelivered to it as hereinafter described. As this presser foot and itsconnections and supports are exactly like the presser foot and bothsides toward the center so as to afford a passage backward through itfor the flap of the envelop, as is shown in Fig. 14-, and as will behereinafter described. It also provided at a suitable distance eachsideof its center with vertical slots 58 to permit the forward passagethrough it of the pusher arms hereinafter described. The surface of theplate is slightly curved to conform generally to the are on which thefeed blade hereinafter described travels, and is located in such. aposition that the under surface of the feed plate slides over it in theact of feeding an envelop, as hereinafter described, the supply table,its projecting arms, and the plate 55 being so located as reform asubstantially continuous surface along which the under side of theenvelop slides .as it is being fed to be moistened as hereinafter de:

scribed.

indicates a thin plate the upper en f which is secured to. the backupper surface of the blade and which projects down? ward into a watertrough 60. which is supported on the frame 18 below and to the rearofthe rear end of the receiving table 42 and extends across the machinefrom side to side. Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 3, 8, 11 and 13,61 indicates a housing whieh is secured upon a cross bar 62 mounted inthe framework 18. 63 ind cates a gear which s mounted upon the shaft 19and secured thereto in any appropriate manner, 64 indicates a gear whichmeshes with the gear 63 and. is journaled upon a suitable shaft 65mounted in the framework 18. The gears 63 and 64: are just within oneside of the frame. work 18 and in line therewith and hence are not shownin Fig. 2. 66 indicates a sprocket wheel which is integral with orsecured to the hub of the gear (34 and rotated therewith. 6? indicates asprocket wheel which is secured to a suitable shaft '68 which isjournaled in the framework 1 8, and connected by a universal joint 69with a stub shaft 70 which is journaled in the housing 61. '71 indicatesa spocket chain connecting sprocket wheels 66 and 67, thus driving thehaf 8 an ub ha 70.- 72 i di a es brushes which are mounted upon the stubshaft 70 and rotate therewith in the direc-v tion indicated by arrows inFig, 3. and bear normally upon the upper surface of the springs 30preventing the slipping down of any envelop until forced down as hereinafter described, and preventing the delivery of more than one envelop ata time.

'73 indicates a bell crank lever havin arms 74 and 75, and which isprovided with a counterweight 76 and is pivotally mounted on a rod 77which is secured to the framework of the machine.

78 indicates a feeder plate which is formed of a thin strip of metalcurved in the arc of the radius of the arm 74- ot' the bell crank lever73 and secured upon the end of the arm 74. The arm 74 is of such lengththat the bell crank lever is swung, as hereinafter described, the feederplate 78 will pass through the opening at the end of the supply table 28between the arms 29 substantially in contact with the under side of saidtable and in alinement with the under side of said table and inalinement with the under side of the pile of envelops thereon, the arm74 swinging between the arms 29 so as to engage the flap of an envelopand carry the envelop downward as hereinafter described.

79 indicates a spiral spring one end of which is secured to any suitableportion of the framework, as a pin 80 secured to a depending bracket 81,and the other end of which is connected to the counterweight part 76 ofthe bell-crank lever 73 back of its pivotal point on the rod 77. Thespring 79, so connected, is stretched and the counterweight is liftedwhen the arm 7 1 is rocked downward. The spring and the counterweight,therefore, tend to hold the bellcrank lever 73 in the position sh own inFig. 1, and when it is rocked so as to carry. the arm 7% downward thespring and counterweight tend to restore the bell-crank lever to itsnormal position.

82 indicates an arm which is secured to the arm 74 and is provided witha cam-slot 83. The upper portion 83 of this cam-slot is curved for asuitable portion of its length upon an are which corresponds to the arcof travel of the end of the crank arm 26 when it is moving upward fromthe position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as hereinafter described. Theremainder 83 of the cam-slot is substantially straight.

84 indicates a roller which is journaled upon the end of the crank arm26 and is adapted to travel in the cam slot 8 3.

As will be hereinafter more particularly described, the rotation of thecrank arm 26 will operate to swing the bell crank lever 73 from itsuppermost position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, to its lowest position,as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and, after holding the said crank armtemporarily in the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5, will swing it backto its original position.

85 indicates a frame composed of bars 80, 87 and 88 and a counterweight89, as is best shown in Fig. 3, and pivotally mounted upon the rod 77adjacent to the bell crank lever 73. The bar 87 is pivotally connectedwith the connecting rod 25 whereby, as the shaft if) is rotated, theframe 85 will be "ocked on the rod 77 in the several positions shown inigs. 1, (1-. 53 and (i.

90 indicates a curved plate which is secured to and projects upward fromthe outer end of the bar 80. The plate 90 is of sullicient width to comebetween the plates of the pusher hereinafter described, passing be tweenthe bars 413 of he receiving table 4-1, between the cross bar 4 1 of theframe and the bearing stops 41-5, and operating as here inafter d ribedas a plate which will Shjfil rate the pile of envelops discharged uponthe receiving table from the downward com-' ing envelop fed by tie feedng blade, the said plate 90, as is best shown in Fig. 4t, coming betweenthe pile of envelops previously delivered to the feeding table and thedownward coming envelop.

Referring particularly to .5 these parts are best shown, 91 framecon'iposed of a plate 9, and a pinralit-y of inwardly-extend ng bars 9393, 94t-94, Sh -95, which, in the form in which my invention isembodied, are six in number ar anged in three pairs. is,

15. where indicates a ine plate as provided with openings %-97, Withslots 9899 at the top between the pairs of bars 9 1 and 9-3, to permitthe passage through the frame 91. and between the middle pair and theend pairs of bars of the pusher plate hereinafter described, as is seen,for instance, in Fig. 3. The pairs of bars 93- 94c--95 are connected bycross-strips 100, preferably formed integral with said bars. 101indicates moisteners which are formed of any suitable ater-absorbentmaterial and are wrapped around or in any suitable manner secured to thebars 100. The swingii'ig of the frame into its lowermost position, shownin Fig. 6, will dip the moisteners 101 into the water in the trough (50,and, the arm rising to the position shown in Fig. 3, upon its nextdescent the moisteners will moisten the flap of the envelop, ashereinafter described.

102 indicates a roller which is located on ie inner side of the end ofthe arm 75 of ie bell crank lever 73.

103 indicates an arm which is pivotally mounted upon a pin 10% securedto a bracket 1.05 depending from a suitable portion of the main frame18, and projects upwardly therefrom. The arm 103 is provided with 2 slot106, the lower end of which. is straight, and the upper end, 106, iscurved on the are which when the parts are in the position shown in F 1.corresponds with the arc of movement of the end of the arm 75 while itis moving from the position shown in Fig. 1. to its uppermost positionand down again into the position shown in Fig. 1. The slot 106 isengaged by the roller 102 on the arm 75. As the bell crank lever 7 3 isswung in the manner above described, the arm 103is held in the posi tionshown in Fig. 1 while the roller is traveling upward to the end of theupward movement of the bell. crank lever and until. it descends to theposition shown in Fig. 1 again. Upon the further downward move ment ofthe bell crank lever, the arm 103 is rocked back into the position shownin Fig. 4, and forward again into the position shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Fig. 12, where these parts are best shown, 107indicates-a crossbar which is formed integral with or rigidly secured tothe upper end of the arm 102. 108 indicates pusher plates provided withheads 109 and secured to the ends of the crossbar 107. The length of thecrossbar 107 is such as to space the pusher plates 108 apart a distanceequal to the distance between the slots 98-99 between the end pairs ofbars 93 and 95 and the middle bars 94: on the moistener frame 91, andbetween the slots 58 in the plate 55, and they operate to close themoistened flap of the envelop and push the sealed envelop forward uponthe receiving table in the manner hereinafter described, the said pusherplates in their forward motion passing between the end and middle pairsof crossbars and through the slots in the plate 55.

110 indicates a bell crank lever having arms 110 andv 110 which isjournaled upon a rod 111 suitably supported at the rear of the frai'ne18. The arm 110 is provided in its upper portion with a slot 112. Theslot 112 is engaged by a roller 113 mounted near the inner end of thebar 86 of the frame 85, and is curved throughout the greater part of itslength from its forward end toward its rear end in an are whichcorresponds to the arc of travel of the roller 113 while the frame isbeing moved from its upper position shown in Fig. 3 to the positionshown in Fig. 5, whereby, while the frame is traveling through thatportion of its arc, the bell rank lever remains stationary in theposition shown in Figs. t and 5. When the frame, however, rocks lowerinto the position shown in Fig. 6, the roller engaging the other portionof the slot quickly moves the arm 110 into the position shown in Fig. 6.As the frame again rises, the roller bearing in the slot at firstoperates to quickly throw the arm 110 downward until, as it reaches itslowest position, the roller engages the curved portion of the slot,holding the arm 110* in its lower position during the passage of theroller through the curved portion of the slot.

11 indicates a narrow curved plate which is secured to the outer end ofthe arm 110, and which, when the arm 110 is rocked upward, passes overthe top of the plate which is preferably recessed upon its upper edge toinsure the parts not being brought into contact, through the spacebetween the bar 441 andthe crossbar 41 of the receiving table 4-1, and,engaging the outer surface of the bell crank lever 110 and the upperend' to the upper portion of the supply table or any other suitableportion of the frame and operates to assist and speed the upward motionof the arm 110.

116 indicates a frame which is supported upon the frame 18 just abovethe bars 29 of the supporting table 28 so as to leave a space below itfor the passage between its under side and the plates 99 of the envelopsas fed by the feed plate and operates to engage the front edges of thepile of envelops, as is best shown in Fig. 3.

The operation of the above-described mechanism is as follows z-A pile ofenvelops A of any desired number suited to the capacity of the machineis placed upon the supply table with their flap sidesunderneath, andwith the flaps pointing upward, the pile being lightly pressed upon thetable by the presser foot 37 which operates by its own weight tosufficiently hold the pile in place. The front edges of the pile ofenvelops rest against the frame 116, thus supporting the pile ofenvelops against sliding off the feed table. The drive wheel 20 andshaft 19 being setin motion, either by hand or by any suitable power, inthe direction indicated by arrows in Figs. 1 and 3, the brushes 72 arerapidly rotated in lillQClllQC- tion indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3,and, bearing against the exposed lead edges of he lower envelops of thepile and brushing against the spring plates 30, prevent the envelopsfrom sliding downward through the openspace until forced down ashereinafter described. Assuming the parts to be in the position shown inFigs. 1 and 3, the feeder plate 78 has at this moment been urged for- Eward so that its lead end has entered between the flap and the body ofthe envelop, and is from passing through. As the feed plate continues todescend, it carries the envelop with it back of the plate 90 into theposition shown in Fig. l, where it presses the lower edge of the envelopdown against the yielding stops 45. The roller on the crank arm 26entering the curved portion of the slot 83, the bell crank lever 73remains in the position shown in Fig. 4, holding the envelop firmlyagainst the stops 4L5 during the mois tening and flap replacingoperations. The envelop thus being held against the stops, the moistenerframe 91 thereupon descends, operated in the manner above described, andthe moisteners 101 are brought downward over the gummed flap of theenvelop, as is shown in Fig. During this time, the frame 85 has beenrocked downward so as to move the plate 90 out of the way and into theposition shown in Fig. 5. As the frame 85 is rocked still fartherdownward in the manner above described, the moisteners descend into thewater in the trough 60, into the position shown in Fig. 6, in which theframe 85 is shown in its lowest position. in the meanwhile, the rolleron the crank arm 26 has reached the upper end of the slot and the bellcrank lever 73 is being rocked backward, raising the feed plate out ofits engagement with the flap. As the feed plate passes out ofengagement, the arm 110 of the bell crank lever 110 is moved rapidlyupward by the mechanism above described, and the plate 11% passingrapidly upward, into the position shown in Fig. 6, engages the outsideof the flap of the envelop, lifting it into the position shown in Fig.0, in position to be engaged by the pusher plates.

The parts are so located and timed that as soon as the flap of theenvelop has been moistened as above described the arm 103 begins to moveforward out of the position shown in Fig. 4, and the pusher plates 1.08are moved forward, the heads 109 engaging the flap of the envelop fromthe rear, pressing the moistened flap against the body of the envelop,and, passing through the slots 58 in the plate 55, pushing the envelopfor 'ard against the pressure of the presser foot 4 upon the table 4L2,the pusher plates then being in the position shown in Fig. 3, whichindicates the extreme forward limitof their movement. As the parts reachthis position, the roller 102, as is shown in Fig. 1, is just enteringthe curved port-ion 106 of the slot 106. As this portion of the slotcorresponds with the arc of the further upward travel of the roller 102,and its downward travel until it again reaches the position shown inFig.

1, the pusher plates, it will be obvious, are held stationary, pressingthe rear envelop against the presser foot 47, or against the pile ofenvelops, if previous envelops have been delivered. While the pusherplates are being thus pushed forward, and while they are being so heldin position, the frame 85 again rises, carrying the moistener frameupward past the pusher plates into its upper position, the pusher platespassing through the slots between the end pairs and the middle pair ofbars of said moistener frame. At the same time, the curved plate 90 iscarried upward, passing justbehind the forward edges of the pusher heads109 and between the same, as is best shown in Fig. 3, thus, comingbehind the front edge of the pusher heads and therefore behind the lastenvelop fed upon the receiving table, and rising in front of thedescending feed-plate, insuring the separation of the pile of envelopson the receiving table from the next downward-coming envelop. Whilethese operations are being performed, the crank arm 26 has rocked thefeed plate 7 8 into its uppermost position some distance back of theposition of the part shown in Figs. 1 and 3, ready to engage the nextenvelop on the supply table with its next forward motion. The parts areso timed and the plate 90 is of such length that it does not pass belowthe upper surface of the receiving table until after the lead end of thefeed plate 7 8 has reached its lowest position and is holding theenvelop firmly against the stops. As envelop after envelop is fed fromthe supply table, moistened and sealed, it is pushed out upon thereceiving table, forming a pile of envelops B, Fig. 3, against thespring action of the presser foot 47. When the entire pile upon thesupply table is fed, a new pile of envel ps may be placed upon the tableby lifting the presser foot 37 out of position and the sealed envelopsmay be removed from the receiving table 42 by lifting the presser foot47.

Fig. 17 shows the preferable form of my removable moistener. Referringto that figure, 101 indicates a support which is preferably formed of athin strip of metal bent longitudinally so as to provide a slot 101",running longitudinally thereof. 101 represents a strip of absorbentfabric, preferably cloth, which is wrapped around the support 101 withits free ends inserted in said slot. The moistener is then mounted onthe frame by slipping the cross bar into the slot 101 hat 1 claim as myinvention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. in an envelopsealing machine, the combination with a frame, driving mechanism, and anenvelop support, of a receiving table mounted on said frame, a swingingarm mounted in said frame and connected with said driving mechanism, afeed plate on said arm adapted to engage an envelop flap and feed theenvelop to said receiving table and temporarily hold said envelop inengagement with said receiving table, a flap moistener,

mechanism for operating said flap moistener to moisten said flap whilesaid envelop is held in engagement with said receiving table, andsealing mechanism adapted to close the moistened flap and push saidenvelop out upon said receiving table when freed fromengagementtherewith by said feed-plate.

2. in an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a frame, drivingmechanism, and an envelop support provided with a slot, of a receivingtable mounted on said frame, a swinging arm mounted in said frame,mechanism for swinging said arm, a feed-plate carried by said arm andadapted when said arm is swung to pass through the slot in said envelopsupport and engage the flap on the under side of an envelop resting onsaid envelop support and feed the envelop to said receiving table, meansconnected with said driving mechanism for causing said feed-plate totemporarily hold said envelop in engagement with said receiving table, aflap inoistener, mechanism for operating said flap moistener to moistensaid flap while said envelop is held in engagement with said receivingtable, and pushing mechanism adapted to close the moistened flap andpush said envelop out upon said receiving table when freed. fromengagement therewith by said feedfplate.

3. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a slotted-supplytable adapted to hold a pile of envelops, a drive shaft, means fordriving said shaft, a crank arm on the end of said drive shaft, areceiving table and stops thereon, of a swinging arm pivotally mountedin said frame, a feedplate on the end of said arm adapted when said armis swung to pass through the slot in said supply table and between aportion of the top of said table and the envelops thereon and to engagethe flap of an envelop, an arm secured to said swinging arm and providedwith a cam slot adapted to be en gaged by said crank to operate saidswing.- ing arm and feed said envelop downward to said receiving tableagainst said stops and temporarily hold the same in engagement with saidstops, a flap moistener connected with said drive mechanism and adaptedto moisten the flap of an envelop while the same is held in engagementwith said stops, and a pusher mechanism connected with said drivingmechanism and adapted when said envelop is freed from engagement withsaid stops by the lifting of said feed-plate to seal said envelop andpush. the sealed envelop upon the receiving table.

In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a frame, a supplytable mounted in said frame and adapted to hold a sup ply of envelops,feeding mechanism adapted to engage the flap of the lowest envelop ofthe pile and withdraw the same from the pile, plates adapted toyieldingly bear upon the under surface of an envelop a it is lieingwithdrawn and flap moistening niechan+ ism, of a rotary brush locatedadjacent to said supply table and bearing upon said plates, andmechanism for rotating the same against the lower envelops of said pileto prevent the moving from said supply table of any envelop except theone engaged by said feeding mechanism,

5. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a frame, asupport on said frame adapted to contain a pile of envelops, an envelopfeeding mechanism adapted to engage the flap of the under envelop andremove the envelop from said support, flap moistening mechanism, pushingmechanism adapted to close the moistened flap and deliver the sealedenvelop, and mechanism for operating said feeding, moistening andpushing mechanisi'n, of a rotary brush adapted to bear upon the leadedge of the under envelops of the pile as they rest on said support, andmechanism for rotating said brush against said pile of envelops.

(i. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a frame, asupporting table mounted on said frame and adapted to supporta pile ofenvelops, spring plates on said table bearing against the under side ofsaid pile of envelops, a feed plate adapted when. operated to pass abovesaid spring plates and below the under surface of the lowest envelop ofthe pile and engage the flap of the envelop and forward said envelop byits flap thus engaged from said supporting table, flap moisteningmechanism, and mechanism adapted to seal the moistened flap and deliversaid sealed envelop, of rotary brushes bearing against said springs andagainst the lead edges of the lower envelop of said pile, and mechanismfor rotating said brushes against said envelops.

7.111 an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a main frame, asupport on said frame adapted to hold a pile of envelops, a swinging armmounted on said frame, a feed plate on the end of said arm adapted whensaid arm is swung to engage the fiap of the lowest envelop of said pileand remove the envelop from said support, stops mounted on said frame, areceiving table, and driving mechanism adapted to operate said swingingarm and to hold the same with its engaged envelop against said stops, ofa water trough mounted on said main frame, a swinging frame pivot-ed onsaid main frame, connections between said swinging frame and saiddriving mechanism adapted to swing said swinging frame on its pivot,envelop moistening devices carried by said swinging frame and adapted asit swings to alternately dip said moistening devices into said watertrough and carry said moistening devices over the flap of the envelopwhile it is held nponsaid stops by said feed-plate,automatically-operated means adapted to lift the envelop flap after thesame has been moistened, a swinging arm pivoted on said main frame andconnected with said driving mechanism, and pusher plates carried by saidarm and adapted as said arm is swung to engage the moistened flap ofsaid envelop after it is freed from engagement with the feed plate topress said moistened flap against the body of the envelop and deliversaid envelop sealed upon said receiving table.

8. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a main frame, asupport on said frame adapted to hold a pile of envelops, a swinging armmounted on said frame, a feed plate on the end of said arm adapted whensaid arm is swung to engage the flap of the lowest envelop of said pileand remove the envelop from said support, stops mounted on said frame, areceiving table, and driving mechanism adapted to operate said swingingarm and to hold the same with its engaged envelop against said stops, ofa water trough mounted on said main frame, a swinging frame pivoted onsaid main frame, connections between said swinging frame and saiddriving mechanism adapted to swing said swinging frame on its pivot,envelop moistening devices carried by said swinging frame and adapted asit swings to alternately dip said moistening devices into said watertrough and carry said moistening devices over the flap of the envelopwhile it is held upon said stops by said feed-plate, a plate, means forautomatically moving said plate against the envelop flap and lifting thesame after the same has been moistened and immediately retracting saidplate, a. swinging arm pivoted on said main frame and connected withsaid driving mechanism, pusher plates carried by said arm and adapted assaid arm is swung to engage the moistened flap of said envelop after itis freed from engagement with the feed plate to press said moistenedflap against the body of the envelop and deliver said envelop sealedupon said. receiving table, presser mechanism adapted to yield inglypress upon the pile of envelops upon said support, and presser mechanismadapted to yieldingly press against the forward face of said envelopsagainst the action of said pusher plates as the same are delivered tosaid receiving table.

9. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a support adaptedto hold envelops, and means for engaging the flap of the under envelopforwarding the envelop and temporarily holding the said envelopstationary, of a receptacle adapted to contain a moistening fluid, aframe, a moistening device on said frame, and means for alternatelydipping the moistener on said frame into said receptacle and moving thewetted moistener across the flap of the envelop while the same is heldstationary by the forwarding device.

10. In a moistening device for an automatic envelop sealing machine, thecombination with a frame and means for operating the same, of a bar onsaid frame, and a longitudinally-folded plate adapted to support anabsorbent material, and adapted with said absorbent material to beremovably slid upon said bar.

11. In a flap moistening mechanism for a automatic envelop sealingmachine, the combination with a moistener frame and means for operatingthe same, of a bar on said moistener frame, a support having alongitudinal slot adapted to receive said bar, and a strip of absorbentfabric wrapped around said support and having its ends engaged in saidslot and adapted to be held in place by the engagement of said bar insaid slot.

12. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a supportadapted to hold a pile of envelops to be sealed, a delivery tableadapted to hold a pile of sealed envelops, an envelop feeder adapted toengage the flap of an envelop to be sealed and forward the same to saiddelivery table, and tiap moistening mechanism, of pusher mechanismadapted to close the moistened flap of the envelop and push it forwardupon the delivery table, a plate, and means for moving said platebetween the last sealed en-' velop and the path of travel of envelopfeeder to separate the sealed envelop from the next envelop fed to thedelivery table.

13. In an envelop sealing machine, the combination with a frame, asupport on said frame adapted to receive a pile of envelops, a receivingtable carried by said frame, a swinging arm mounted on said frame, afeed-plate on. said swinging arm adapted to engage the flap of anenvelop, mechanism adapted to move said arm to forward the envelopengaged by said feed-plate to said delivery table, and flap moisteningmechanism, of pusher mechanism adapted. to engage the envelop after theflap is moistened and feed the same to said delivery table, a swingingarm mounted on said frame, a separator plate on said swinging armadapted as said arm is swung to pass behind the lead end of said pushermechanism and in front of said feed-plate as a fresh envelop is fed tosaid receiving table, and means for operating said swinging arm andseparator plate.

DANIEL G. BUTTS. Witnesses .V. D. TRoYnn, WM. F. VOORHIES.

